Racial Restoration Retreat for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Many wellness retreats have fallen short in establishing a truly welcoming atmosphere for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In response to this, we are proud to offer a week-long retreat that revolves around the experiences, perspectives, and needs of BIPOC. Designed with a focus on activities that promote both restoration and resistance, this retreat serves as a tender space for individuals to understand, process, and find ways to heal from the trauma of experiencing racism.
Our retreat aims to offer a ‘revolutionary paradigm of care’, promoting collective healing, solidarity & empowerment.
25 – 31 August 2024 – only 3 spots lefts
THE PRICES & ACCOMMODATION
For 7 days (6 nights) retreat including all classes, workshops, walks, accommodation & 2 vegan buffets a day. The prices include everything for the week except your flights & transport to the retreat. Only a 350€ deposit is needed to make the reservation. You can view the accommodation details and photos here .
** Scholarship Positions – Several full scholarship positions are available. Please contact us in writing if interested.
ABOUT THE RETREAT
Racial trauma is an individual and collective trauma that can be caused by genocide, colonization, white supremacy, and other forms of systemic harm. Its far-reaching effects permeate our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, manifesting in conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, inflammation, hypervigilance, dissociation, and internalized racial inferiority. This trauma can also reverberate across generations. In response to these profound challenges, this retreat will serve as a medicine that focuses on dynamic forms of healing.
Day 1: Welcoming
Day 2: Emotional Healing
Day 3: Mental Healing
Day 4: Physical Healing
Day 5: Spiritual Healing
Day 6: Generational Healing
Day 7: Closing & leaving day
WORKSHOPS
Yoga & Movement │Nature Walk│Ode to the Ancestors│Ancestral Fire & Tobacco Maya Ceremonies│Daily Prayers│Aligning of four bodies series
RETREAT FOCUS
- Emotional healing for racial apathy and racial fear so that we may honor our humanity.
- Mental healing for racial gaslighting and racial triangulation so that we may validate our reality.
- Physical healing for racial violence and racial inequity so that we may tend to our bodies.
- Spiritual healing for racial microaggressions and racial othering so that we may honor who we are.
RETREAT VALUES
We celebrate diversity within communities of color
We honor people’s unique experiences with racism
We respect people’s ancestral cultural practices
We ensure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued
We practice both self care and community care.
A DAY AT THE RETREAT
8:00 – 9:30 Movement Class
10:00 – 11:00 Plant based brunch
12:00-14:00 Aligning of four bodies series
17:00-18:00 Plant based dinner
19:00-20:30 Ceremonies
THE PLACE “Mahakala Center” & Plant based food
The homely centre is located in the small seaside village of Buljarica in Montenegro, cradled by the mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Surrounded by the four elements of earth, air, sun and water, located on a steep hill between local houses and a 15-minute walk from the local beach.
The kitchen is fully plant based with a zero waste policy, all food sourced from local family owned organic farms and the water from the mountain spring. The food is home made by local Montenegrin women and the Menu crafted by Dr Vesna Lemm, a detox & nutrition specialist.
Mahakala offers 2 daily homemade vegan buffets, meal times based on a powerful intermittent fasting philosophy involving two highly nutritious meals per day (served at 10:00 and 17:00). During the day we serve plenty of seasonal fruits, spring water and herbal teas. Additionally coffee or snacks can be purchased from the coffee shop.
Paola Nikté
Paola Nikté, Yokot’an, Maya indigenous descent is a Traditional Maya Midwife, Healer, Ajq’ij ( Spiritual Guide) Indigenous Rights and Environmental Activist, based in Europe since 2017.
With her work she honors their ancestors’ transmission, preserving knowledge and ancient rituals that help and support women in all their cycles, thus promoting physical, spiritual, emotional and mental well-being of women.
Paola uses different techniques combining ancestral medicine and honouring Mother Earth and her sacred energies.
Sika Dede
“For me, yoga is a part of my holistic healing journey. I started practicing yoga at the age of 18. It brought peace to my body and mind. Ten years later, I traveled to India to do yoga teacher training. Since then, I have been teaching predominantly Black indigenous people of color, due to the lack of yoga spaces exclusively for non-white people. This particular approach to yoga recognises the unique experiences and needs of BIPOC communities and aims to create an inclusive environment for practicing yoga. My classes aim to create a safe and supportive space for individuals to practice yoga while taking care of their emotional and physical well-being. They focus on empowerment, healing and self-care in the context of shared experiences. It can be a space for individuals to release stress, process emotions and build a positive relationship with their bodies. In 2020 I started offering so-called collective healing yoga retreats in Ghana. Besides being a yoga teacher, I work as a consultant and speaker in the field of political education.”
COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Tara is reimagining the ways we connect with spirituality; shifting from individualistic to collective. 5% sales of every retreat will support local conservation groups or indigenous community projects. Empowering you to make inner transformation alongside meaningful collective change. The organization we support this year you can read more about in our philosophy page.Frequently asked questions
Here is a packing list that you might find helpful when getting ready for the retreat ahead:
- Comfortable clothes for yoga and other activities
- Closed suitable shoes for walking/hiking
- Swimsuit if you want to go swimming (we also have a Jacuzzi)
- Journal and pens
- Toiletries (all natural products are suggested due to the organic sewage system)
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat for sunny days
- Mosquito repellent
- Rain jacket (in case it happens to rain)
- Sea shoes (there may be sea urchins at the beach)
You can travel to our retreats either by air plane, train or bus.
For getting to the retreat from Sutomore train station, Tivat airport or Podgorica airport, there is a great local taxi driver Stefan who you can contact beforehand via Whatsapp (+382 69444506). We will be creating a whatsapp group chat for everyone a little closer to the retreat start date where you can find other guests you might like to carpool with. Another option is contacting Mahakala Center (+382 (0) 67233481) to inquire about their shuttle service as they may be able to organise one at around 15:00 from Podgorica airport for 10-15€, depending on the number of people wanting to sign up for the service. If you’re coming by car, please reserve your parking spot in advance (5€ / day).
For the latest information on our Reschedule & Cancellation policy, please click here.
Yes, we welcome all women between the age of 18 to 80 to this retreat. We love having a variety of ages on our retreat and it is wonderful to see different generations connecting and sharing their wisdom with each other. On average our guests for this retreat are usually between early 20s to mid 30s.
We want to give our retreat guests an opportunity for a digital detox and therefore have the general wifi on only twice a day (10:30 – 12:30 & 18:00-19:00). However, for guests that need internet for working, for example, we also have e-internet cables for computers in all rooms that work all the time.
The maximum group size for this retreat is 18 women.
You absolutely can! Most of our guests come alone and love the experience. It is a safe environment to be yourself and form authentic friendships. We have seen some of the most beautiful connections blossom during these retreats.
Depending on your flights, you may have an extra day to enjoy Montenegro before:
Our favourite places to enjoy your time in Montenegro:
- Hoopoe Glamping (Lake Skadar)
- The Grove Hostel (Bar)
- Wild river rafting at Tara River (Grab Etno Village)
- Kite Surfing at Ada Bojana
- Porcelani (mountainside getaway airbnb neat Skadar)
- Hiking in the Cursed Mountains or Dormitor
- Airbnbs in our nearby town Buljarica & Petrovac
If you would like to adventure a little further and have more time, Kotor is a beautiful, UNESCO world herited city and if you love nature we would recommend you to go explore the Durmitor mountains, Tara river and the cursed mountains near Albania, for some of the most beautiful, clear lakes!
If you would like to know more about nice places to stay in Montenegro, feel free to email us and we will give you more information.